Director Pepa Lubojacki\u2019s heartbreaking film chronicles the lives of her brother as he struggles with drink and homelessness \u2013 and her own shame in the face of societal prejudice<\/p>\n
Czech film-maker Pepa Lubojacki originally set out to make a film about pigeons. What fascinated the 39-year-old director was that the grey birds are clearly beautiful and highly intelligent creatures, yet human cruelty towards them is socially acceptable in the way it isn\u2019t towards, say, crows or magpies. \u201cYou can spot kids kicking and chasing pigeons while their parents cheerfully look on,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The moral blind spot reminded her of the way that people looked at homeless people like her older brother and her cousins. \u201cThe public has learned to avert their eyes,\u201d she says. \u201cMy cousin was declined care seven times with open wounds in the hospital, and finally, they had to amputate both of his legs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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